[The initial location of the tumor as a prognostic factor in chemodectomas of the neck]

Starting from 1979, chemodectomas of the neck are classified at Cancer Research Center as follows: carotid, from vagus nerve paraganglia, and atypical. A total of 135 patients with chemodectomas of the neck were observed, 84 of these with chemodectomas of the carotid body, 40 with tumors originating from vagus nerve ganglia, and 11 with atypical tumors. Analysis of clinical manifestations showed the absence of recurrences after surgery. Vagus nerve chemodectomas were associated with neurological symptoms because of tumor dissemination into the parapharyngeal space under the cranial vault; for this cause, surgical intervention was often not radical. Atypical chemodectomas were liable to stubborn relapsing, necessitating reoperations. Identification of the source of chemodectoma is the crucial prognostic factor for the patient.